Spain's hopes of reaching the 2015 Rugby World Cup took another blow as they were beaten 25-15 by Romania in Gijon.
Despite scoring just the one try through Catalin Fercu in the first half, it was the boot of Florian Vlaicu that saw Romania home as he converted Fercu's five-pointer and added six more penalties.
Lionel Pardo and Cesar Sempere replied with tries for Los Leones, whilst Corey Simpson added a penalty and a conversion.
Defeat leaves Spain bottom of the European Nations Cup tournament with just three points from their opening three games.
Elsewhere, defending champions Georgia ran out 23-9 winners over Russia in Sochi and have inched ahead of Romania in the standings by virtue of scoring more tries in the three rounds so far.
Leading the chase now to catch Georgia and Romania is Portugal after they picked up their first win of the competition spanning two years with a hard-fought 18-12 victory over Belgium in Lisbon.
Portugal have five points after three rounds - seven fewer than the leading pair - with Belgium and Russia on four points and Spain bottom with three points.
The top two sides at the end of the two-year qualification campaign will progress to the World Cup in England with the third-placed side going into a play-off.
Comments
kybone says...
Scrumpoacher- Oh brilliant. At least then when Australia lose you can declare your support for Samoa.
Posted 21:17 24th February 2013
Scrumpoacher says...
Kybone-I would love a SH comp with Japan Samoa and tonga. I had mooted the idea of a proper pacific nations comp previously including the US and Canada too. Break up RC and send SA to the European one as their supporters clearly feel hard done by...Cheers
Posted 12:59 24th February 2013
kybone says...
scrumpoacher- You mean in the same way that the rugby championship should involves the likes of Samoa and Tonga? Actually i have championed the cause of the 'other' european teams, and even suggested that the 6N be altered to a biannual comp. which actually takes the format of a fully fledged euro championships. But for a SH fan to come on and make the comment that you just have is very rich indeed. It you forever to agree to let the Argies in.
Posted 12:26 24th February 2013
kybone says...
Ok, so what about the other two games?
Posted 10:22 24th February 2013
scrumpoacher says...
Time to expand the 6N to a biennial event to include these teams-of course the English and celts won't do it though, afraid of competition and lost revenue. #growthegame
Posted 08:58 24th February 2013